Why the Ball Change in Mackay Wasn't Probably a Case of Ball Tampering

During the first unofficial Test match between Australia A and India A in Mackay, a ball change incident sparked some controversy but was ultimately not classified as ball tampering. This was made clear by umpire Shawn Craig's comments heard through the stump mic: "YOU SCRATCH it, we change the ball." This incident occurred as Nathan McSweeney led Australia A to a comfortable victory, but the focus shifted to the circumstances surrounding the ball change.

The key reason the umpires' decision was not considered ball tampering lies in their choice not to enforce the "five penalty runs" typically awarded under the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws when a ball is changed due to suspected tampering. According to MCC Law 41.3.4.2, umpires are to award penalty runs if they suspect that the condition of the ball has been unfairly altered.

However, the match was played under Cricket Australia's specific playing conditions for Sheffield Shield and Second XI matches, which allow umpires to change the ball without applying the penalty. In such cases, the playing conditions take precedence over the MCC laws.

The relevant rule, MCC Law 41.3.4, states that if umpires suspect the condition of the ball has been altered unfairly but lack certainty, they may choose to change the ball without imposing penalties. In the Mackay incident, the umpires might have opted not to label the condition of the ball as unfairly changed, avoiding the severe implications of a Level 3 offense associated with ball tampering, which could lead to bans for players or the captain.

The situation became tense shortly before play resumed when India A players, led by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, confronted umpire Craig about the overnight ball change. There was significant frustration expressed by the India A team, particularly from wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, who openly questioned the decision, leading to further exchanges with the umpire. Craig had to remind the players that such dissent was inappropriate and warned that their behavior could be noted officially.

Despite the heated discussions, Craig maintained that the matter was settled and instructed the players to resume play. Following the incident, Cricket Australia released a statement clarifying that the ball had been changed due to deterioration and that both teams had been informed prior to the start of play. The statement concluded that no further action would be taken regarding the incident.

In summary, the absence of penalties and the umpires’ discretion based on their assessment allowed the ball change to remain a procedural issue rather than escalating into a full-blown controversy over ball tampering.